The Press Box.

Krajicek Aces Lipton Final Exam

March 28, 1999|By Stephen Nidetz.

Richard Krajicek won his first U.S. tournament title since 1993 Saturday, dealing 24 aces to beat unseeded Sebastien Grosjean 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 7-5 in the final of the Lipton Championships at Key Biscayne, Fla.

Krajicek struggled in the opening set, losing his serve for only the third and fourth times in the tournament, then found the groove. Reaching a top speed of 130 m.p.h., he lost only nine of 61 points on his first serve.

Krajicek, who beat Pete Sampras in the quarterfinals for the fourth consecutive time, earned $360,000 for his 17th career title and his second this year. His last U.S. championship came at Los Angeles six years ago.

Krajicek, 27, will climb to a career-best fourth in this week's rankings. Grosjean, 20, will jump from 74th into the mid-40s for reaching his first ATP Tour final. He earned $190,000.

- In his first public tennis appearance since his stroke last July, Rod Laver took another step in his recovery, conducting a clinic for children at the Lipton Championships.

- U.S. Open champion Lindsay Davenport and Mary Joe Fernandez have joined Serena Williams in withdrawing from this week's Family Circle Cup.